Shira Sa'ar: Handling Nuance During Wartime

In this episode, I chat with my coworker and first Israeli guest on the podcast, Shira Sa’ar! We talk about identity, culture, and the realities of life in Israel. We discuss the different Jewish subcultures in Israel, from Mizrahi to Ashkenazi, and compare them to Jewish communities in the U.S. Then we get into Shira's perspective on political correctness, stereotypes, and why Israeli discourse often leaves little room for complexity. Then, we finish off with a fun game comparing Israeli and American words and Yiddish slang!

 0:00 - 7:22 | Shira’s army service and upbringing

 8:40 - 14:22 | Jewish subcultures in America vs. Israel

 14:22 - 20:00 | Stereotypes, racism, and social divisions in Israel

 20:00 - 25:30 | The role of nuance and complexity in Israeli discourse

 25:30 - 32:39 | Dating norms, meeting the parents, and cultural expectations

 32:39 - End | Israeli vs. American slang + Yiddish quiz